U.S. patent number 3,683,889 [Application Number 05/068,871] was granted by the patent office on 1972-08-15 for heating container.
Invention is credited to Viktoria Hoffman.
United States Patent |
3,683,889 |
Hoffman |
August 15, 1972 |
HEATING CONTAINER
Abstract
A vessel has a boundary wall defining a cavity which contains a
liquid. A heating insert is in heat-conducting relation with said
cavity and defines a heating compartment adjoining said boundary
wall and containing a heat-delivering substance which is capable of
performing an exothermic reaction. An outer drinking container
contains said vessel and insert. Said outer container and vessel
consist of a sufficiently heat-resisting material, which consists
at least in part of plastics material.
Inventors: |
Hoffman; Viktoria (Garsten,
OE) |
Family
ID: |
3608237 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/068,871 |
Filed: |
September 2, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Sep 16, 1969 [OE] |
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A 8751/69 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
126/263.07;
126/262 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
36/28 (20130101); B65D 81/3484 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
36/28 (20060101); A47J 36/24 (20060101); B65D
81/34 (20060101); F24j 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;126/262,263 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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856,079 |
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Mar 1940 |
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FR |
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158,259 |
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Mar 1940 |
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OE |
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Primary Examiner: Myhre; Charles J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A heating container for producing a hot liquid preparation,
which container comprises
a vessel having an aluminum metal foil boundary wall defining a
cavity which contains a liquid, the aluminum foil having a coating
of plastics material on the side facing said cavity,
a heating insert in heat-conducting relation with said cavity, said
insert defining a heating compartment adjoining said boundary wall
and containing a heat-delivering substance which is capable of
performing an exothermic reaction, the boundary wall separating the
heating compartment from the cavity, and
an outer drinking container which contains said vessel and
insert,
said outer container and vessel consisting of a heat-resisting
material which consists at least in part of plastics material.
2. A heating container as set forth in claim 1, in which said
boundary wall has a corrugated portion which separates said heating
compartment and cavity.
3. A heating container as set forth in claim 1, in which said outer
container is formed with an inwardly extending recess containing
said heating compartment.
4. A heating container as set forth in claim 3, in which said outer
container has a bottom formed with said recess.
5. A heating container as set forth in claim 1, in which said
boundary wall is formed with an inwardly extending recess
containing said heating compartment.
6. A heating container as set forth in claim 1, in which said
boundary wall comprises a cover, which contains said heating
compartment.
7. A heating container as set forth in claim 1, in which said outer
container has a generally square, protruding edge flange.
8. A heating container as set forth in claim 1, in which said outer
container has generally the form of a cup.
9. A heating container as set forth in claim 1, in which said outer
container consists of transparent plastics material.
10. A heating container as set forth in claim 1, in which said
outer container consists of deep-drawn plastics material.
11. A heating container as set forth in claim 1, in which said
outer container consists of foamed polystyrene provided with a
liquidtight inside coating.
12. A heating container as set forth in claim 11, in which said
outer container is injection-molded.
13. A heating container as set forth in claim 12, in which said
outer container consists of deep-drawn foamed polystyrene
sheeting.
14. A heating container for producing a hot liquid preparation,
which container comprises
a vessel having a boundary wall defining a cavity which contains a
liquid,
a heating insert in heat-conducting relation with said cavity, said
insert defining a heating compartment adjoining said boundary
wall,
partition means dividing said compartment into a plurality of
sub-compartments and said sub-compartments containing respective
components of a heat-delivering substance which, when contacting
each other, are capable of performing an exothermic reaction,
trigger means operable to establish a communication between said
sub-compartments, and
an outer drinking container which contains said vessel and
insert,
said outer container and vessel consisting of a heat-resisting
material which consists at least in part of plastics material.
15. A heating container as set forth in claim 14, in which
said partition means comprise a leaf and
said outer container comprises a wall portion which is spaced
outwardly from said leaf and resiliently depressible to cause said
leaf to become torn open.
16. A heating container as set forth in claim 15, in which
said wall portion consists of an outwardly cambered, prestressed
diaphragm which when depressed tends to remain in a depressed
position to indicate that the exothermic reaction has been
initiated.
17. A heating container as set forth in claim 15, in which said
outer container comprises wall portions which surround and
outwardly protrude said resiliently depressible wall portion.
18. A heating container as set forth in claim 15, in which
said leaf has preformed perforations sealed by a coating and
a cutting device is provided, which is coupled to said resiliently
depressible wall portion and comprises knife edges in register with
said perforations and adapted to be forced into said perforations
when said resiliently depressible wall portion is depressed.
19. A heating container as set forth in claim 14, in which
said components are glycerine and potassium permanganate,
respectively, and
sorbitol is admixed to at least one of said components in the same
state of matter as said one component.
20. A heating container for producing a hot liquid preparation,
which container comprises
a vessel having a boundary wall defining a cavity which contains a
liquid,
a heating insert in heat-conducting relation with said cavity, said
insert defining a heating compartment adjoining said boundary wall
and containing a heat-delivering substance which is capable of
performing an exothermic reaction,
an outer drinking container which contains said vessel and
insert,
said outer container and vessel consisting of a heat-resisting
material which consists at least in part of plastics material,
and
heat-lagging layers between said heating compartment and the
outside of said container.
21. A heating container for producing a hot liquid preparation,
which container comprises
a vessel having a boundary wall defining a cavity which contains a
liquid,
a heating insert in heat-conducting relation with said cavity, said
insert defining a heating compartment adjoining said boundary wall
and containing a heat-delivering substance which is capable of
performing an exothermic reaction,
an outer drinking container which contains said vessel and
insert,
said outer container and vessel consisting of a heat-resisting
material which consists at least in part of plastics material,
and
means defining an expansion compartment disposed between said
heating compartment and the outside of said container,
said means comprising means for providing a communication between
said expansion compartment and said heating compartment when said
exothermic reaction has been initiated, and filter means disposed
between said expansion compartment and the outside of said
container.
22. A heating container as set forth in claim 21, in which said
outer container is formed with a recess, which contains said
heating compartment, expansion compartment and filter.
23. A heating container for producing a hot liquid preparation,
which container comprises
a vessel having a boundary wall defining a cavity which contains a
liquid,
a heating insert in heat-conducting relation with said cavity, said
insert defining a heating compartment adjoining said boundary
wall,
partition means dividing said heating compartment into a plurality
of sub-compartments containing respective components of a
heat-delivering substance which, when contacting each other, are
capable of performing an exothermic reaction,
an outer drinking container which contains said vessel and
insert,
said outer container and vessel consisting of a heat-resisting
material which consists at least in part of plastics material,
said container being formed with a plurality of steps defining a
recess which contains said heating compartment,
filter means disposed between said heating compartment and the
outside of said container, and
said partition means and filter means having edge portions secured
to said steps.
24. A heating container for producing a hot liquid preparation,
which container comprises
a vessel having a boundary wall defining a cavity which contains a
liquid,
a heating insert in heat-conducting relation with said cavity, said
insert defining a heating compartment adjoining said boundary wall
and containing a heat-delivering substance which is capable of
performing an exothermic reaction,
an outer drinking container which contains said vessel and
insert,
said outer container and vessel consisting of a heat-resisting
material which consists at least in part of plastics material,
said outer container is formed with a recess, which contains said
heating compartment and
said recess is gas- and liquidtightly sealed on the outside by a
sealing leaf adapted to be torn open.
25. A heating container for producing a hot liquid preparation,
which container comprises
a vessel having a boundary wall defining a cavity which contains a
liquid,
a heating insert in heat-conducting relation with said cavity, said
insert defining a heating compartment adjoining said boundary wall
and containing a heat-delivering substance which is capable of
performing an exothermic reaction,
an outer drinking container which contains said vessel and
insert,
said outer container and vessel consisting of a heat-resisting
material which consists at least in part of plastics material,
a filter disposed between said heating compartment and the outside
of said container and comprising an inner layer of silica gel, an
intermediate non-woven layer of cellulose fibers, and an outer
layer of foamed polystyrene.
26. A heating container for producing a hot liquid preparation
which container comprises
a vessel having a boundary wall defining a cavity which contains a
liquid,
a heating insert in heat-conducting relation with said cavity, said
insert defining a heating compartment adjoining said boundary wall
and containing a heat-delivering substance which is capable of
performing an exothermic reaction,
an outer drinking container which contains said vessel and
insert,
said outer container and vessel consisting of a heat-resisting
material which consists at least in part of plastics material,
a partition defining in said vessel an admixture compartment and
separating said admixture compartment from said cavity,
a trigger which is operable from the outside of the container to
tear open said partition, and
a closure which covers said trigger on the outside of said
container and is adapted to be torn off to expose said trigger.
27. A heating container as set forth in claim 26, which comprises
means for initiating said exothermic reaction in response to the
operation of said trigger.
28. A heating container as set forth in claim 26, which
comprises
a second partition defining in said vessel a second admixture
compartment and
a second trigger which is operable from the outside of the
container independently of said first-mentioned trigger to tear
open said second partition.
29. A heating container as set forth in claim 26, in which
said admixture compartment contains a coarse-grained admixture
and
said outer container comprises a resiliently depressible wall
portion constituting said trigger.
30. A heating container as set forth in claim 26, in which said
trigger comprises a resiliently depressible diaphragm, which is
preformed in cambered shape and adapted to remain in a position to
which it is depressed.
31. A heating container as set forth in claim 26, in which
said trigger comprises a resiliently depressible wall portion of
said outer container,
said outer container is formed with a recess defined by said
resiliently depressible wall portion, and
said outer container is provided with a tear-off leaf covering said
recess.
32. A heating container as set forth in claim 26, in which said
outer container comprises two mutually opposite, inwardly extending
recesses, respectively containing said heating compartment and
trigger.
33. A heating container as set forth in claim 26, in which
said outer container has generally the form of a rectangular prism
having side and end walls formed with recesses respectively
containing said heating compartment and said trigger.
34. A heating container as set forth in claim 33, in which
one of said side walls is formed with a drinking opening which
communicates with said cavity, and
said side walls are provided with a tear-off strip covering said
drinking opening and said recesses.
35. A heating container as set forth in claim 33, in which said
heating insert is detachably mounted in one of said recesses.
36. A heating container as set forth in claim 26, in which
said vessel is formed with an inwardly extending recess containing
said partition and a detachable insert containing said admixture
compartment.
37. A heating container for producing a hot liquid preparation
which container comprises
a vessel having a boundary wall defining a cavity which contains a
liquid,
a heating insert in heat-conducting relation with said cavity, said
insert defining a heating compartment adjoining said boundary wall
and containing a heat-delivering substance which is capable of
performing an exothermic reaction,
an outer drinking container which contains said vessel and
insert,
said outer container and vessel consisting of a heat-resisting
material which consists at least in part of plastics material,
which said outer container consists of a bag having a bottom, which
comprises said heating insert and a trigger which is operable to
initiate said exothermic reaction.
Description
This invention relates to a heating container for use in the
preparation of liquid foodstuffs, beverages and similar liquid or
semiliquid substances or preparations to be used in a hot state,
such as medicaments, glues to be applied in a hot state, etc. Such
products will be referred to hereinafter as "beverages" for the
sake of simplicity. More particularly, the invention relates to a
heating container which comprises a vessel for holding the beverage
and a heating insert, which is in heat-conducting connection with
the contents of the vessel and contains a substance which is
capable of reacting with a delivery of heat.
Known heating containers of that kind have been successful only for
special purposes. These known heating containers are similar in
form to the usual cans or tins for foodstuffs and it is necessary
to pour the heated contents of the vessel into a drinking vessel or
to consume the heated contents of the vessel through a drinking
straw. The wall of the tin or can is heated to a high temperature
so that it is difficult to touch the heated tin or can. Known
heating containers are suitable only for beverages which can be
stored in their final state and for this reason cannot be used for
heating a large number of beverages, such as coffee or tea, which
suffer in taste or become unpalatable as a result of fermentation
and the like when stored in a prepared form. The taste of stored
beverages is also adversely affected because the heating containers
are made from tinned iron. Finally, the substances taking part in
the exothermic reaction are sometimes dangerous so that substantial
safety precautions are required to avoid an explosion when the
exothermic reaction has been initiated and to prevent an ingress of
toxic substances into the beverage. The thermal reaction is
normally initiated by a breaking of vessels or by a release of
detonators by means of a trigger; these operations are fairly
complicated. Those parts of the heating and safety means which must
be provided regardless of the size of the heating container involve
very high manufacturing costs so that for these reasons alone the
known heating containers are economical only if the vessel has a
very high cubic capacity. In view of the above considerations, it
has been the general practice previously to prepare hot beverages
in a conventional manner by means of an external source of heat and
a hot beverage is not consumed unless such source of heat is
available.
It is also known to prepare cold beverages, particularly lemonades
or coffee, in discardable containers in the form of cups or
bottles, which have a compartment containing a soluble extract. A
closure is provided which can be torn open to contact said extract
with a liquid filled into the container so that the extract
dissolves in the liquid.
It is an object of the invention so to modify and improve a heating
container of the kind defined first hereinbefore that it
constitutes an economical package for hot beverages to be dispensed
in small portions, enables a simple and safe manipulation, does not
adversely affect the taste of the beverage and enables a
preparation of beverages which cannot be stored or can be stored
only with restrictions.
This object is accomplished according to the invention in that the
entire container constitutes a drinking container, the cavity of
the vessel contains a small portion of the beverage, the container
and the vessel are made of a material which has the required
heat-resisting qualities and consists at least in part of plastics
material, and the heat-delivering substance is accommodated in a
compartment which adjoins at least one boundary wall of the cavity
of the vessel.
Because the container itself is used as a drinking container, it
can be handled in a simple manner as separate drinking vessels and
drinking straws are no longer required.
The entire container may consist of plastics material sheeting,
foamed plastics material sheeting or thin-walled injection-molded
plastics material as well as of metal foil, particularly aluminum
foil, coated with plastics material or with heat-sealable varnish,
similarly coated paper, or pulp or fiber material which has been
coated with plastics material and compression-molded into the
desired shape. The outer container may consist of transparent
plastics material, such as impact-resistant polystyrene. The outer
container may be made in a shape which resembles a conventional
drinking vessel, such as a cup or tin or can, or the container may
be made from plastics material sheeting or foil which is folded
into the form of a box or bag, which is provided with drinking
fittings and the like. Regardless of the form of the outer
container, it is recommendable to separate the heat-delivering
substance from the cavity of the vessel by a metal foil,
particularly an aluminum foil, because the same has a higher
thermal conductivity. That foil may be provided with a coating of
plastics material or heat-sealable varnish at least on that side
which faces the cavity of the vessel so that the taste of the
beverage will not be adversely affected. Such foil can easily be
joined by heat-sealing, welding or adhering to the remaining part
of the vessel, which is similarly coated or consists of a suitable
material. If the outer container is made from heat-insulating
material, such as a sheeting of foamed plastics material having a
liquid-tight inside coating, heat losses will be prevented, the
heated vessel can be grasped and the heated contents can be drunk
from the vessel.
For many applications, it will be recommendable to combine the
heat-delivering substance and the means for initiating their
reaction in a heating insert, which has a predetermined heat
delivery capacity and can be accommodated in different containers.
Solid or liquid reactants may be used for the exothermic reaction
and the latter may be a physical or chemical reaction. For
instance, the heat of recrystallization of various suitable
substances may be used to generate heat. From among the large
number of substances which are capable of reaction exothermically
when contacting each other, potassium permanganate and glycerin may
be mentioned by way of example. When these components are mixed or
contacted with each other, their temperature will rise rapidly and
up to a maximum of about 130.degree. C. If sorbitol is added to at
least one of these components in the same state of matter as the
respective component, the heat-generating capacity will be
increased so that a smaller amount of heat-delivering substance
will be sufficient to heat a given amount of liquid. At the
temperature which have been mentioned, a sufficient heat resistance
of the container material is required only immediately adjacent to
the heating insert. In that area, the container consists suitably
of metal foil. The remaining container must be made of a material
which resists the temperature to which the beverage may be heated.
This temperature may be as high as 68.degree. C. in the case of
coffee or tea. The heat-delivering capacity of the heating insert
depends on the amount of thermal energy required to heat the
contents of the vessel to the desired temperature, taking the
temperature into account at which the heating container is stored
before use. For a given amount of a given beverage, heating
containers which are used outdoors in winter or which are stored in
a refrigerator or the like before use must be provided with a
heating insert having a higher heat delivery capacity than heating
containers which are used in summer or which are stored at higher
temperatures. When it is desired to avoid the use of different
packages for these different uses, the last-mentioned embodiment
may be provided with two compartments for each of the reactants for
the exothermic reaction and with separate triggers for establishing
a communication between the respective compartments so that the
actuation of one trigger results in the generation of a basic heat
quantity and the actuation of the second trigger results in the
generation of an additional heat quantity in case of a low initial
temperature. In this embodiment, the sorbitol may be accommodated
in a separate compartment and a separate trigger may be provided to
connect said separate compartment to the two other compartments so
that the heat delivery capacity of the heating insert is increased
as required.
Further details and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following description with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which the invention is shown by way of
example.
In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a heating container
for the preparation of coffee,
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification of
the container of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing the container of FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing the container of FIG.
1,
FIG. 5 shows a plurality of containers as shown in FIG. 1, which
are nested for shipment,
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another heating
container,
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a further heating
container,
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a heating container
for beverages which can be stored when they have been prepared,
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a different
container for beverages which can be stored when they have been
prepared,
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification of
the container shown in FIG. 9,
FIG. 11 is a view partly in transverse section showing the
container according to FIG. 9.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a detail of the container of
FIG. 11,
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the container of FIG. 9,
FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another heating
container in the shape of a bag,
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the container of FIG. 14,
FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a baglike
container for beverages which can be stored when they have been
prepared and
FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the container of FIG. 16.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, an outer container 1 in the shape
of an inverted cup is provided at its top with a hollow peripheral
edge bead 2, which surrounds a central hump 3. The top of the hump
3 is below the top of the edge bead 2. The central portion of the
hump 4 is formed by an upwardly convex diaphragm 4. The container 1
has an outwardly offset lower edge portion comprising a shoulder 5
succeeded by a depending rim 6.
The bead 2 has an enlarged portion 7, which is provided with a
drinking slot 8. It is apparent from FIGS. 1, 3, and 5 that the
drinking slot is sealed by a sealing tab 9, which can be torn off
and which in its sealing position covers also that portion 7 of the
edge bead 2 which is contacted by the mouth when drinking.
FIG. 2 shows a leaf 10, which covers and seals the entire edge
bead, inclusive of the recess 11 which accommodates the hump 3.
This leaf is provided with a tab 12 by which it can be torn
off.
The outer container 1 is made from a suitable plastics material or
another of the materials mentioned first hereinbefore, particularly
from sheeting by deep-drawing, or may be made by injection molding.
The container has corrigations at 13 to ensure an adequate
stiffness in spite of a low wall thickness.
An insert 14, which has also the form of an inverted cup, is
mounted in the outer container 1 from the underside. The insert 14
is formed with a plurality of steps and has a rim 15, which is
liquid tightly secured to the shoulder 5 by heat sealing, welding
or adhering. The insert 14 consists preferably of deep-drawn
aluminum foil, which on the side facing the cavity 16 of the vessel
or on both sides is coated with plastics material or heat-sealable
varnish to facilitate the connection to the shoulder 5 and to
ensure that the taste of the beverage to be held in the cavity 16
will not be adversely affected.
A diaphragm 19, a separator 20 and an insulating layer 21 are
secured to the outer flange 15 and the shoulders 17, 18 of the
insert 14 also by welding, heat sealing or adhering. The diaphragm
19 consists of a foil of aluminum or the like and is preferably
provided on the side facing the insert 14 with a coating of
plastics material or heat-sealable varnish. The diaphragm 19, the
separator 20 and the insulating layer 21 define compartments 23, 24
and 25. The compartment 23 accommodates a liquid reactant and the
compartment 24 accommodates a solid and particularly pulverulent
reactant for the exothermic reaction. For instance, the compartment
23 may be filled with a glycerine-water mixture and the compartment
24 with a blend of potassium permanganate, solid sorbitol, and
silica gel. The separator 20 may consist of carton which on the
side facing the insert 14 is coated, and is provided with
perforations 22. The compartment 25 holds filtering and absorbent
materials, such as silica gel. The insulating layer 21 may consist
of non-woven cellulose fibers. There is also an outer layer 26,
which consists of a sheeting of foamed plastics material and is
provided with perforations. The outer layer 26 may be covered by a
tear-off layer.
The hump 3 is closed at the bottom by a leaf 27, which consists
preferably also of aluminum foil. In this way, an extract
compartment 28 is defined, which contains an extract adapted to be
added to the water which is contained in the cavity 16, or another
sterilized liquid contained in said cavity, when said water or
other liquid has been heated. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a coarse-grained
solid extract although a liquid extract may also be used. The foil
27 is preferably coated with plastics material or heat-sealable
varnish. A granular extract is preferably lyophilized to improve
its solubility.
When the container is to be used, any leaf which covers the layer
26 and, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the leaf 10 are torn
off. Pressure is then applied to the central portion of the layer
26 and to the diaphragm 4 from opposite sides to compress the
container so that the leaf 27 and the diaphragm 19 are torn open,
the extract from compartment 28 may become dissolved or suspended
in the liquid contained in cavity 16, and the reactants for the
exothermic reaction in compartments 23, 24 may mix to initiate the
exothermic reaction. The entire container may be shaped to
accelerate the dissolution of the extract and the exothermic
reaction. The silica gel admixed to the solid reactant for the
exothermic reaction in the compartment 24 acts as a wetting agent
to accelerate the reaction. The exothermic reaction results in a
formation of water and gases, which enter the filter compartment 25
in which they are mainly retained by the filter. Additional water
and water vapor are absorbed by the insulating layer 21 consisting
of non-woven cellulose fibers. Because gases and water vapor can
escape, the exothermic reaction cannot result in dangerously high
pressures. When the exothermic reaction has been completed, the
extract from compartment 28 has been dissolved or suspended in the
liquid contained in cavity 16 so that the hot beverage can be drunk
through the drinking slot 8.
When the diaphragm 4 and the layer 26 have been forced inwardly,
they do not entirely return to their initial position shown in the
drawing so that it is apparent from the outside of the package
whether one of the two reactions has been initiated, e.g., as a
result of improper storage or handling. Such packages may be
rejected before they are sold.
The extract which is contained in compartment 28 may be a coffee
extract or an extract of coffee substitute, cafe au lait,
coffein-free coffee or malt coffee. Tea and cocoa beverages may
also have components which are contained in the form of extract in
compartment 28. For tea, the extract compartment 28 may directly
form a tea bag, the perforations of which are torn open when the
diaphragm 4 is depressed so that the heated liquid can contact the
tea. Sweetening agents may normally be added directly to the
extract. Alternatively, sweetening agents and other admixtures,
which are only selectively used, may be accommodated in another
compartment, which is separated from the compartment 28 and which
by the actuation of an associated pressure trigger can be torn open
for communication with the cavity 16 so that the user may add these
admixtures to the beverage at his discretion. It is preferable to
use synthetic sweetening agents based on cyclamates or saccharine
because they require only little space. When a beverage is to be
prepared which is always sweetened, the liquid in cavity 16 may be
a sugar solution so that the exothermic reaction need not generate
the heat of solution. Similarly, malt beverages, mixed alcoholic
beverages, soups, broths etc. may be prepared as they are
heated.
The heating container may be used to prepare a coffee which has the
typical appearance of Italian mocha or capuccino. These beverages
are served with a foamed surface. For this purpose, a
physiologically acceptable foaming agent, such as a small amount of
tartaric acid, may be added to the extract or the liquid or this
foaming agent may also be accommodated in a compartment which can
be torn open by the actuation of a separate trigger. In the
embodiment of FIG. 2, the leaf 10 consisting preferably of aluminum
foil will also act to prevent a loss of the flavor of the extract
contained in compartment 28.
Because the step 5 protrudes and has a square basic configuration,
the heating container is supported on a large surface. Besides, a
plurality of heating container may be nested for shipment within a
small space, as is shown in FIG. 5.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is basically similar to that of
FIGS. 1 to 5. For this reason, the same reference characters are
used for similar parts.
In this case, the outer container 1a consists of a molding of
foamed material, particularly foamed polystyrene. The wall of the
outer container is formed with a recess 11, in which a drinking
opening 29 and a venting opening 30 are provided. The entire hump
3a constitutes a diaphragm, which can be depressed and to which the
bottom of a self-contained container 31 defining the extract
compartment 28 is secured. The container 31 is closed by a leaf 32.
When the diaphragm 3a is depressed, the entire container 31, 32 is
displaced and the sealing leaf 32 is forced against the insert 14
and is thus torn open. The insulating layer 21, 26 is disposed in a
recess in the bottom. The container bottom is protected by a metal
foil 33, which can be torn open and which just as the leaf 10, 12
is torn off before the container is used, i.e., before the
exothermic reaction is initiated. The leaves 10, 33 protect the
container also during shipment from an unintended initiation of the
exothermic reaction or a dissolution of the extract from the
compartment 28 in the liquid contained in the inner cavity 16. If
the leaf 10 is elastically extensible, the diaphragm may be
actuated even when the leaf 10 is still in sealing condition. This
has the advantage that an undesired escape of liquid from the
cavity 16 before the drinking operation is prevented. The two
leaves 10, 33 substantially improve the shelf life of the entire
heating container.
FIG. 7 shows a heating container which comprises a cup-shaped outer
container 34 having a wide depending rim 35. The bottom of the
outer container 34 is formed with an annular bead 36, which
protrudes over a central hump 37, which again constitutes a
diaphragm and by a sealing leaf 38 is closed and separated from the
inner cavity 39 of the vessel. An extract compartment 40 is thus
defined, which contains a cup-shaped insert 41, which has a rim
facing the leaf 38 and formed with sawtoothlike knife edges 42.
When the diaphragm 37 is depressed, the knife edges 42 cut through
the leaf 38 and expand the same so that the liquid from the cavity
39 can dissolve or suspend the extract contained in the compartment
40. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the heating insert consists
of a sealing cover of the outer container. That cover has a sealing
leaf 43, which extends around the rim 35 and is liquid- and
gastightly joined to that rim. The leaf 43 can be removed by means
of a tear-off tab 44 and is covered on top by a heat-lagging layer
45, e.g., of Styropor foamed material. The leaf 43 carries an
insert body 46, which protrudes into the container 34 and which is
formed at its bottom 47 with corrugations 48 to improve the heat
transfer. The insert is closed at the top by two leaves 50, which
are disposed one over the other and define between them a space 49.
The insert is filled with a supersaturated solution of a
recrystallizable material, such as sodium acetate. That material
was liquefied by superheating before it was filled into the insert.
The space 49 contains sharp-edged crystals of the same or a
different material. When the cover or diaphragm 37 is depressed,
the knife edges 42 will cut through the foil 38 so that the liquid
from the cavity 39 can dissolve the extract contained in the
compartment 40. This dissolving operation can be improved in that
the cup 41 is performated and the hump comprises beads 51, which
reinforce the hump. As a result, the liquid will be conducted
quickly to all parts of the extract. The leaf 50 facing the
compartment 52 is torn open at the same time. When the sharp-edged
crystals enter the compartment 52, the supersaturated solution
therein recrystallizes without evolution of gas or vapor and
without change in volume and the heat of crystallization is
transferred through the wall of the insert 46 to the liquid
contained in cavity 39. The wall of the insert 46 consists
preferably of coated aluminum. When the liquid has been heated, the
tear-off tab 44 is pulled to remove the cover and the heating
insert. The rim 35 then forms a drinking rim of the open
container.
FIG. 8 shows a tin- or can-shaped outer container 53, which is
closed at its top by an insert cover 54, which is formed with a
drinking opening 56 and a vent opening 57. The openings 56 and 57
are mutually opposite and sealed by tear-off closures 55. The
insert cover has such a shape that the protruding rim 58
constitutes a drinking rim. The inner cavity 59 of the container
should contain a beverage which can be stored when it has been
prepared, e.g., a soup. The bottom of the container 53 consists of
a heating insert, which is basically similar to the heating insert
14 of FIGS. 1 to 6. For this reason, the same reference characters
are used. Because the container 53 has probably a larger cubic
capacity, the heating insert 60 is correspondingly larger only in
diameter than in the embodiment described before. To improve the
heat transfer to the liquid contained in cavity 59, that wall of
the insert 60 which adjoins the compartment 23 is formed with
corrugations 61. The container 53 is preferably made from
aluminum-coated carton or another of the materials mentioned
hereinbefore and the cover 54 and the insert 60 are preferably made
from coated aluminum foil.
The top surface of the insulating layer 21 contacts a cup-shaped
cutting device 62, which again carries sawtoothlike cutting edges
63, which extend through a common opening 64 of the separator 20 or
are disposed below the separator 20 in position of rest. When the
bottom of the container is depressed, the knife edges 63 penetrate
the foil 19 at numerous points so that the exothermic reaction
begins quickly virtually throughout the heating inserts in chambers
23, 24. The foil 19 and the separator 20 may be preformed with
perforations in register with the knife edges and these
perforations will be closed by a subsequently applied coating until
the bottom is depressed.
FIGS. 9-13 show heating containers 65, 66 which are cubic or
rectangular in their basic configuration. A cubic shape has the
basic advantage that such containers can easily be made on
corresponding machines and the machines may be altered for making
containers for different purposes. FIGS. 9 and 13 show a cubic
container 65 for beverages which can be stored when they have been
prepared. These beverages are contained in the inner cavity 67. In
FIG. 9, two opposite ends of the cubic container are closed by
heating inserts 68, which correspond to the inserts 14.
Alternatively, only one end may be provided with a heating insert
and the opposite end wall may be closed by a flush inserted closure
plate or an extract compartment 28 or 40 may be provided instead of
the heating insert 68. The side wall of the cubic outer container
is formed with a drinking opening 70, which is sealed by a
tear-open tab 69. The package shown in FIGS. 9 and 13 having a
given basic shape may be used for different purposes by the
provision of different inserts.
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 is a modification of
the same basic concept. In this case, extract compartments may be
provided not only at one end but at up to three side walls of the
package. One side wall 71 is provided with the side wall seam 72
and with a drinking opening 73, which is protected by a tear-off
tab 74. The other side walls of the container may contain inserts.
FIG. 11 shows an insert 76, which is inserted in an opening in a
side wall and contains an extract compartment 79 defined between
two leaves 77, 78. That extract compartment may contain an
admixture which is to be added to the contents of the vessel only
when this is desired. Such admixture may consist, e.g., of a
sweetening agent, a milk extract or a foaming agent for the
preparation of coffee. When the extract contained in the extract
cavity 79 is to be added to the contents of the container, pressure
is applied to the outer leaf 77 so that the leaf 78 is torn open.
All side walls of the package may be enclosed by a protecting leaf,
which can be torn open before the container is used. The side walls
of the container may be increased in length so that the package has
the form of a square prism. In this way, the cubic capacity can be
increased but the package may still be handled on the same
packaging machines.
FIGS. 14 and 15 show a heating container in the form of a block
bottom bag. The bottom consists of a heating insert 80, which
corresponds to the insert 14 and to which a suitably folded bag 81
is liquidtightly joined. The forward and rear walls 82, 83 of the
bag may be provided on the inside with leaves 84 joined by heat
sealing so that these walls are hollow and comprise extract
compartments 85. Adjacent to the top edge, a seam 86 is provided
which extends from the outer edge only to a drinking opening 87.
Transverse series of perforations are provided adjacent to the
drinking opening. The edge of the bag can be torn open along these
series of perforations by means of a tab 88 to expose the drinking
opening.
According to FIGS. 16 and 17, the bottom of a bag consists also of
a heating insert 89, which comprises an inner shell 90. A leaf 91
forming the bag is liquidtightly joined to the edge of the inner
shell. The leaf 91 is formed with a drinking opening 92, which is
sealed by a tear-off tab 93. The inner shell 90 is provided with
knobs 94 or similar protruberances, which ensure that the
exothermic reaction can be initiated virtually throughout the
entire heating insert and be accelerated in that the insulating
layer 26 is depressed at several points.
* * * * *